Mid Century Modern
DMAC, 2020
8/10
A trio consisting of Doug MacDonald on guitar, Larry Holloway on bass and Tim Pleasant behind the drum kit, The Coachella Valley Trio take inspiration from the beauty of their Palm Springs home, its glorious weather and retro architecture, where 4 originals and 7 standards are offered with sublime instrumentation.
“My Shining Hour” starts the listen with spirited guitar work and light percussion as the gentle jazz landscape glides by with precision, and “Lance Or Lot” follows with a light and agile setting of subdued beauty.
Elsewhere, “What’s New” flows with playfulness as the 3 work together dynamically, while “Give Me The Simple Life” recruits djembe from Big Black to accent the charming jazz atmosphere.
At the end, “Woody ‘N You” moves with a swift pace of meticulous guitar work, and “Bossa Nueva” gets quite adventurous, again with Big Black’s inimitable execution in attendance. “The Way You Look Tonight” ends the listen with elegance and friskiness in the classic tune that’s redone in a way that few could replicate.
MacDonald is nothing if not prolific, and this time around he brings much swing fun to the equation, in one of his most memorable projects in recent history.
Travels well with: Doug MacDonald & The Tarmac Ensemble- Jazz Marathon 4: Live At Hangar 18; Doug MacDonald- Califournia Quartet